Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal has alleged that the trend of political crime in Odisha is a product of the Bharatiya Janata Party. The BJP, especially Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is importing crime to Odisha politics from Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. He is responsible for the rise in the incidents of crime in the state.

Dharmendra Pradhan is a member of the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh. Earlier also he has been a member from Bihar. He learnt the art of political violence from there and now importing it to Odisha during the polls. He has destroyed the peaceful political environment in the state, the BJD alleged in a press meet.

Dharmendra Pradhan has been fiercely influencing the polls by intimidating, threatening and preventing poll officials from doing their duty. He also did not allow checking the suitcase he was carrying to the poll officials. It shows the true image of the Union Minister’s arrogance, the BJD said. The press meet was addressed by spokespersons Lenin Mohanty, Sulata Deo and Sasmit Patra. His arguments and behavior with the poll personnel clearly shows that he was hiding something inside the suitcase, the BJD alleged.

The BJD spokesperson also said that this is not the first time Dharmendra is indulging in such behavior. He has a long list of such cases which prove that he has questionable integrity. Dharmendra’s connection with crime and criminals has a long history and a glaring one is the Vyapam Scam in Madhya Pradesh.

The BJD questioned Dharmendra Pradhan’s connection with Vyapam main accused Sudhir Sharma from whom he had taken a flight ticket. Dharmendra should make it clear before the people of Odisha what was his intentions in the Vyapam Case and how he benefited by the scam, the BJD spokespersons said.

Dharmendra has also a involvement in the Coal allocation scam. In 2014, the former Union Coal Secretary PC Parakh in his book “Crusader or Conspirator?: Coalgate and Other Truths” named Pradhan for his conspiracy to get benefits of coal allocation for specific people and vested interests. This raises questions that need to be answered, the BJD has said.

The criminal mindset is not only with Dharmendra but most of the BJP candidates have a same background. The latest incident of EVM damage by the SUroda MLA candidate proves this point. Nilamani has since been arrested by the police for this. Nilamani Bisoi of BJP has a long list of three murder cases, three attempt to murder, six cases of rioting, three cases of abduction, six cases of criminal intimidation, and one case each of Illegal Arms Act and Illegal Explosive Act cases. the party spokespersons said. Apart from Nilamani, the BJP candidate from Bhatli Irasis Acharya was also arrested in July, 2018 in a murder case and was jailed.

The list does not end here. The BJD asked how gangster Tito was given two petrol pumps. Dharmendra should answer the question. Likewise, in the Chatrapur Laxmidutta murder case, the accused was arrested from a guesthouse of Uttarakhand. It is said that the room was booked by a central minister. Dhrmendra should make it clear who the central minister is. Also, Dharmendra’s brother is involved in a case related to black marketing of LPG. The BJD also questioned Dharmendra’s relations with dreaded criminals Dhalasamanta brothers.

The BJP is facing the people of Odisha with theses criminal elements in these elections. The voters will give a right reply to the party, said the spokespersons.